The Dears
Missiles
(MapleMusic)
The siren of urgency, or slightly elevated tunings, continues to be a signature for Montreal bands. Dears leader Murray Lightburn dominates a touch more than before, going long in quest of the defining epic. The transition from verses to layers and solos in “Lights Off” recalls the audacity of 1970s prog rock---and that could be taken as a compliment. “Synthesizers are for dramatic tension, not beats” is the Dears’ rule, which really works beautifully on “Demons.” Then there is the build from backward drum to the children’s chorus on “Saviour,” which takes longer than some chess matches. Pretentious or ambitious? It’s your choice.
---Doug Taylor